Fixter, the UK’s first end-to-end online car maintenance service provider, is offering expert advice on its website – www.fixter.co.uk – to help all car users keep their vehicles hygienic during the ongoing lockdown.

Key points of the recommendations include the use of appropriate protective clothing to stay safe whilst cleaning a vehicle. Gloves are identified as an essential item in this case, but can become non-effective if not disposed properly immediately after finishing the sanitising process, or if people touch their faces while wearing them, say the Fixter experts.

Useful cleaning products, which can often be found at home, are also recommended by Fixter. For example, certified sanitising wipes and certain UV light treatments to eliminate virus traces are recommended for cleaning car interiors. Whilst car owners are advised to wash their car interiors and exteriors thoroughly, Fixter recommends to avoid using too much water in the car, as it can cause mould and bad smells, especially if residue makes its way down the crevices of seats.

Fixter says it’s not usually necessary to go on a hunt for multiple specific cleaning products, all that’s needed is a bleach-free household disinfectant or even just soap, and a couple of bin liners. However, avoiding bleach is important, as it may damage plastics and vinyl, while chlorine bleach can weaken the fabric of seat belts – so should not be used. Media screens, such as touch displays, may be affected by household glass cleaners, due to their anti-glare coatings. Normal soap and water is recommended as a better option.

Fixter advises to clean all possible touch points, inside and outside of the vehicle including:

The driver area – (steering wheel; central console; levers and switches; internal door release) is important, as it is used the most

Seat belt clips – are often forgotten during the cleaning process. Parents doing up seat belts for children in the back could be at risk to spread the virus or bacteria in the process

External car handles – are the first point of contact with any vehicle. The boot latch is especially important after a food shop, as most people don’t think about potentially transferring germs from the shopping cart handle to the latch of the car boot

As the weather is getting warmer, electric window buttons, window handles and sunshades will be used more frequently, and should be added to the list

Car keys – car keys are often attached to a key ring with multiple other important keys used daily and accumulate dirt, bacteria or viruses

In addition, Fixter experts recommend wearing robust gloves at petrol stations. The experts advise keeping a pair of latex gloves in the car at all times – therefore preparing drivers for petrol stations that have run out of gloves, or if the cheap and thin provided gloves split.

Limvirak Chea, Founder and CEO of Fixter, said: “Since the government has advised to avoid public transportation unless absolutely necessary, more people are relying on their cars. While we offer a car sanitisation service, we want to share our professional insights with not just our customers, but with everyone.”

Damian Jeffries, Head of Driver Operations at Fixter, said: “Cleaning your car is not necessarily something we look forward to doing, but during this time it is incredibly important. Isopropyl alcohol, for example, is one of the best products to use and it’s widely available. However, Isopropyl alcohol is not suitable for leather seats, so it’s vital to use special leather cleaning products if you own a car with leather seats.”